Lismore Showground could be the most versatile space in our town – from speedway, to caravan & camping, to agricultural events – and during last year’s disaster, an important emergency community hub.

They have received a number of State and Federal Government grants over the past few years, which has made the showground a hive of activity as the works come to fruition.

The Lismore App caught up with the Secretary of the North Coast National A & I Society, Mark Sollom, who talked through what has been happening at the showground.

“It's a busy time here at the showground,” he said.

“We're getting a lot of roadwork done… we've put in a new area at the bar, and got a new retaining wall and stairs there to replace the ones that are falling apart, we've done the bar area up as well - it's been a busy time!”

“We've also got a new kitchen being installed up here at the William Smith Pavilion, which should enable us to be doing some bigger functions. We've already had an enquiry from a school for their Year 12 formal at the end of the year, so we expect a lot more events like that.”

The new commercial kitchen could prove a game changer for the showground, allowing them to host weddings, corporate events, but also provide an additional space during natural disaster recovery.

“We really did step up [during the disaster], when it came to what we've been able to give to the community.”

“We hosted Lifeline here for about eight months in the main pavilion, then down at Norma’s Kitchen, Thread Together were down there for a similar period of time handing out top quality new clothes to people.”

“Once they all cleared it out, we were able to get a few builders in to help get us ready for the show, which was a major success.”

“Lots of old timers have said to me that it was the biggest show they've seen since the 80s, and that came down to having a free gate.”

“We won't be able to do that again this year, because it cost the Show Society a lot of money, and we've got to stay in business.”

There are lots of events happening at the showground over the next few months too.

“We're hosting NORPA, they're here at the moment, they've got a very long booking in our main pavilion, that runs from the 23rd of May through to the 24th of July, where they'll be having a major Makers Hub, where a lot of people and organisations from out of town will be coming.”

“We have the Hack Show here every year, that’s happening this year in August, we have the Ulysses Motorcycle Club who are having their national convention here, and that will be from the 1st to the 7th of May - we expect a minimum 400 campers to come and use our facilities.”